As RCR Wireless News reports today, Todd Achilles, the face of HTC Americas in the United States and throughout the
Americas, resigned about a month ago, a company spokesperson now confirmed.
The Windows Mobile device vendor is actively pursuing candidates to replace
Achilles, said Jason Gordon, an HTC spokesman (which previously worked for
Microsoft and Motorola on Windows Mobile).
Achilles joined HTC Americas last year after working at T-Mobile USA, last
serving as director of the carrier's handset product management effort.

HTC Americas, established in 2005, is based in Bellevue, Wash. The HTC has shifted from a heritage of making personal computers to creating handheld, converged devices. Its American arm, which employs about 400 people, has historically produced smartphones that carry branding by U.S. carriers. But the company has ambitions to develop its own brand identity. As with other handset vendors, the company is widely expected to produce a portfolio of products for U.S. carriers this fall.

Despite competing against Apple, Nokia, Research In Motion and Palm, HTC has gained a reputation for innovation, perhaps emboldened by
its relations with Microsoft. But in an interview last fall with
RCR Wireless News,
Achilles said that HTC was not beholden to Microsoft (?) and its focus on
smartphones was the beginning of a move into devices that would bridge the gap
between smartphones and laptops.